Stylist: Diego Armand
Hair & Makeup: Bree Powell (Plutino)
Model: Adrien (Spot 6)
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...I don't know and I don't know why...
Clothing & accessories by:
AMERICAN APPAREL, CAITLIN POWER, GAP, H&M, HOLY TEE, FCUK: FRENCH CONNECTION UK, M6 MAISON MARTIN MARGELIA, WHITNEY EVE
Text & Photos:
Carsten Helmut Vagani
Twitter:@carstenhvagani
Instagram:@carstenhelmutvagani
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Perfecto welcomes Carsten Helmut Vagani as our new Asian correspondent. He’ll be in search of clothes.people.parties in Tokyo & Hong Kong, and beyond!
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CATEGORY IS: Jeunesse NEO-gothique
Lately, reading news out of Japan means learning about how the aging country’s economy is flailing and deflating. With the ailing of its formerly bold and leading electronics giants and a palpable end of Japanese society’s collective luxury brand addiction – it all points towards some challenging years to come.
That being said, one wonders if the wild and crazy party days are also numbered. Well, down in the dark club basements of Shinjuku, Tokyo’s bustling commercial and nightlife hub, an unlikely neo-gothic trend is thriving. Juxtaposed with the candy-coated sweetness of Tokyo’s PYT’s (pretty young things), this is a subculture that loves to indulge in black leather and heavy eyeliner but still loves to 'dance until the world ends'. No doubt, the crowd at the most appropriately named Neo Masquerade Club may be a bit scary to look at, but at risk of presenting somewhat of a Japanese stereotype they’re not only extremely polite, but downright chirpy and adorable: The new 'Jeunesse Neo-Gothique', in distinct Tokyo style.
Here, where avante-garde street style is rampant - the vibrant Neo-Goth movement ignores any problems from the outside world, well at least the until the next morning. Needless to say, sightings of Neo-Goth in broad daylight are possible, but very rare. If you want to inject some vibrant colour into this trend you won’t want to miss Ms. Jingumae’s undisputed temple of avant-garde dressing: the infamous boutique Wut on one of Shinkjuku’s small alleways. Living up to its reputation, it's a spectacular 360-degree extravaganza that will wow anyone who hasn't given up on a colourful and adventurous life (or wardrobe). And if you're all dressed up and need somewhere to go, head to monthly blowout bashes, Prism and FancyHim, where you can get a glimpse of resident DJ wizard Leo Candycane’s staggering get-ups which are worth the excursion alone.
Leave it to the people of Tokyo to wear gleaming frocks, medieval spikes, ludicrous regalia and towering heels in blinding neon to help them get through this time of uncertain financial futures and austerity.
Reporting from Tokyo, I’m Carsten Helmut Vagani for PerfectoMag.com
Wut Berlin Select Store - 5-1-15, Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo. Japan 150-0001 Tel: +81 3-3797-1505
Sodom Tokyo (Monthly) Party sodom-tokyo.tumblr.com
Prism (Monthly) Party keisukehirooka.wordpress.com
FancyHim (Monthly) Party www.fancyhim.com
Stylist: Chloe Wise
Hair & Makeup: Diana Mejia
Model: Laura Kell (Next)
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NEW SUBMISSION!
Clothing & accessories by:
CHLOE COMME PARRIS, DR MARTENS, H&M, JACFLASH, JEREMY SCOTT, NORTHBOUND LEATHER, SID NEIGUM, TOPSHOP AT THE BAY, WILDFOX, YARD666SALE from SHOPNOWHERELAND.COM, YSL, ZARA.
We were lucky enough to get a quick one-on-one with singer Miguel. With his dreamy and hypnotic approach to slow jams, and casual and effortless sense of style. He's been re-shaping the sound and look of R&B and is always trying to counter what's being expected of him.He's in town on tour with Alicia Keys and stopped by Canadian Cool retailer, Roots (in which they're celebrating they're 40th Anniversary this year) to talk style and music with Roots designer Adrian Aitcheson.
In the Q&A Miguel revealed that he'd steal Miles Davis' wardrobe from the 80's, he prefers Chucks over Jordans and for a guy so into fashion he actually hates going shopping. He also prefers a 2 piece suit over a 3 piece (too formal) and favours David Bowie over Mick Jagger (but that was a tough one answer.)
He's a man who lives his art and music so there's no separation between Miguel the artist and Miguel the person. Decked out in his favourites, a biker jacket, sunglasses and the coolest pair of silver boots, the Roots team also gave him the most beautifully minimal quilted black bomber lambskin jacket to take home with him. Here's what went down.
Perfecto Mag: Let's talk about what you're wearing:
Miguel: "Mostly classic shit. This cutoff shirt with leather detail is Saint-Laurent. Vintage motor bike jacket. This (shirt) is Lad Musician, but I always mix it up with Dries (Van Noten). My own vintage motorcycle (jacket), my pants are Levi's and my boots are Saint Laurent. Oh and my sunglasses are Vintage Versace."
PM: We named our site after the Perfecto (jacket brand). Do you have a favourite?
MIGUEL: "I have a few of these but my favourite is my father's leather biker.
It's well broken in and well worn."
PM: It's got some history
MIGUEL: "Ya, tt's been through a bit."
PM: Any fashion collabos coming in the future?
MIGUEL: "I do have some in the works, but I can't talk about them just yet (smiles)My first collaborations are out actually with DEER DANA on some T-shirts (of Sade and Grace Jones)."
PM: Do you have any advice for any new artists who go against the grain (like you have)?
MIGUEL: "More than anything it's just about sticking to your guns. When you think of any artist that pushed boundaries, people didn't really understand it at first. It took years, and albums, for people to realize how great they were. Artists like (David) Bowie, Prince and Michael Jackson, it took people time to catch up. Keeping that (idea) in mind, It will make it easier to fight through adversity and do what you believe in. You can't sacrifice what you believe for what you perceive as success. I feel true success never comes that way."
PM: How do you get through the rough times.
MIGUEL: "Whiskey" (smiles)
PM: Anyone you'd want to do remix for a song on your album?
MIGUEL: "Flying Lotus. I don't know him personally but ya he'd kill that remix."
Miguel's album, Kaleidoscope Dreams, is now available on ITunes.
Follow MIGUEL on Soundcloud, Twitter(@miguelunlimited) & Facebook MOST DEFINITELY follow him on INSTAGRAM @miguelunlimited
If you haven’t heard of Chicago-based ska-reggae-psychedelic-pop-rock-funk-jazz band Wild Belle, you haven’t been listening: the sibling duo Elliot and Natalie Bergman has audiophiles tuned in with songs like “It’s Too Late,” “Love Like This” and our favourite track at the moment, “Keep You;” a Malia Matsoukas-directed video (see: Rihanna's "We Found Love" music video; Katy Perry, Beyoncé and Ne-yo) where lead singer Natalie pines after her younger, Jamaican boyfriend. We chat with Elliot Bergman, one-half of the brother-sister Wild Belle duo. He tells us about Jamaica, shopping at thrift stores and why music is going meta—for the better.
Perfecto Mag: What was the inspiration behind awesome videos like “Keep You.” Where did the idea to use a little Jamaican boy?
Elliot Bergman: “It was all the genius of Malia (Matsoukas). She’s worked with Rihanna and Beyoncé. She listened to our song and instantly had this idea to shoot it in Jamaica and with Jobari as the star. She came up with this brilliant idea that we hadn’t seen anywhere before just after listening to our music. We were so excited to work with her—it’s been a dream of our for a while now.”
PM: Tell us about shooting in Jamaica?
EB: “It was an incredible experience, the whole vibe of the island is great. Very in-line with our sound and totally inspiring. The sand, the water, the people we met down there just gave us so much inspiration. We went to a bunch of studios down there like Bob Marley’s old studio. These places are like the Abbey Road of Jamaica. We’re definitely going back and trying to record there.”
PM: What other artists are you looking forward to collaborating with?
EB: “Well, we’re surrounded with a really talented circle of friends: Dev Hynes in the U.K. … we love Solange and Delicate Steve. We have lots of people we’d love to collaborate with. It’s just a matter of getting together and creating music.”
PM: What about fashion? Any collaborations in the works? How’d you get ready for the “Keep You” shoot in Jamaica?
EB: “We went, on like, a complete shopping spree: we basically went to every thrift store we could find to look for cool ‘70s island wear. Then we realized we had most of this stuff in our closets already!”
PM: Lots of artist are playing into social media, commercials and getting their music on soundtracks for movies and T.V. Any new news for Wild Belle? Are you guys into that?
EB: "Not really, we’re just into making our music right now. It is kind of crazy how some bands are producing music just for commercials or films, it’s not how we’re structuring or producing our music. We’re just seeing what we like and what sounds good to us. We do have a song in a movie, Pitch Perfect. Our friends have told us they’ve heard our music in movies but we’re not that hung up on getting our stuff out there that way, really.”
PM: OK, last question is a fun one we like to ask: What are your three favourite non-musical sounds?
EB: "That’s a good question! I haven’t thought about that really. We had a stream near our house growing up and I guess I really love the sound of rushing water. I love birdcalls like the sound of owls or robins and birds in the springtime. And bells are great, I really like the sound of a tolling church bell or any kind of bell, really.”
Their album, Isles, is now available on ITunes.
Follow WILD BELLE on Soundcloud, Twitter(@wildbellemusic) & Facebook
Glynnis Mapp is a Toronto-based fashion and beauty editor and the editor of her website, FashionTK.com
Video: Istoica
Styling: Colleen Henman
Makeup & Hair: Robert Weir
Model: Juliann (Elite Toronto)
Music: Fade by Holly Herndon
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This video was inspired by the futuristic grunge look of movies like Blade Runner and Fifth Element. An idea of future fashion from our past. - Istoica
Clothing Provided by: Topshop at the Bay,Club Monaco, Zara,White Space at the Bay, Stylists Own
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